The Internet and social media have ushered in new ways of doing business. But as with so many other aspects of running a medical office, health care is different from any other business when it comes to an online presence. The sanctity of the physician-patient relationship can often be at odds with the openness, anonymity, and wide accessibility of the Internet and social … [Read more...] about 4 big social media mistakes your practice must avoid
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Use all available ICD-10 codes for glaucoma
By Judy Monestime bio Chapter 7 of ICD-10 CM codes in the range of H40-H42 describes specific forms of glaucoma. The official guidelines describe the requirement to assign as many codes from category H40 as needed to identify the type of glaucoma, the affected eye, and the glaucoma stage. The stage of glaucoma is specified with the seventh character: 0-Stage … [Read more...] about Use all available ICD-10 codes for glaucoma
3 ways to more safely process patient payments and enhance overall security
By Paul Panos bio Today's office managers face security concerns from all sides – from HIPAA compliance to PHI laws. Shouldn't protecting financial data be the last thing on your mind? We've already explored in a previous article how the right payment processing technology can boost a practice's profitability, but it can also enhance a practice's level of security … [Read more...] about 3 ways to more safely process patient payments and enhance overall security
Mobile usage on the rise at medical practices, emphasis now on safeguards
More physicians are going mobile, and iPhones and iPads are the devices of choice, with more than 68 percent of doctors preferring Apple technology over Android. According to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, 59.3 percent of all primary care physicians' daily emails are for the interpretation of test results, while 21.7 percent are responses to … [Read more...] about Mobile usage on the rise at medical practices, emphasis now on safeguards
Terminating entry-level employees may cost you the most
By Steve M. Cohen bio I recently spoke with two different clients who were planning to terminate entry-level, relatively "inexpensive" people. I asked them what they meant, and each client indicated that the employee's annual salary was around $40,000. When I asked if they wanted my help structuring the exit of these two, they both considered that my services were … [Read more...] about Terminating entry-level employees may cost you the most
Some good explanations on the tough spots offices encounter with the FMLA
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) continues to pose a lot of questions for a lot of readers. Here are some Medical Office Manager has received plus some general information on the law. The answers are provided by Vanessa G. Nelson, SPHR, CLRL of Expert Human Resource Consultants in Flint, MI. The FMLA applies to offices with 50 or more employees and allows up to 12 … [Read more...] about Some good explanations on the tough spots offices encounter with the FMLA
Creativity helps increase patient payments
If your practice is like most, it regularly struggles with patient payment issues. Churchland Internal Medicine in Chesapeake, VA, has found a solution – actually several – to help resolve payment problems. "In our office, when a patient is asked for a payment on a balance and does not pay, we set up a payment agreement," says Linda Warren, office manager. Then, the office … [Read more...] about Creativity helps increase patient payments
Nurses’ work-related injuries and physical discomfort impact patient care
Findings of an independent survey conducted by Ergotron, a Nortek company that manufactures ergonomic workplace products, highlights many of the day-to-day difficulties nurses face with medical equipment, clinical workflow, electronic health records (EHRs), physical strain or injury and how these factors impact the delivery of quality patient care. Of note, 60 percent of nurses … [Read more...] about Nurses’ work-related injuries and physical discomfort impact patient care
Health care field offers greatest workplace flexibility
The health care field tops the list of categories with the most work-at-home jobs, according to recent research conducted by FlexJobs, a leading online service for flexible and freelance employment opportunities. What’s more, medical coder, a position common at many practices, ranks No. 9 on FlexJobs’ list of the 20 most common work-from-home job titles. Indeed, telecommuting … [Read more...] about Health care field offers greatest workplace flexibility
Think twice before going to court
By Steve M. Cohen bio One of the most difficult challenges I face can be helping office managers and owners resist an urge to "fight it out" in court. There are times when it is necessary to take legal action or aggressively defend action against your organization. But in most cases, it should be your last resort. First, going to court is a roll of the dice. You may feel … [Read more...] about Think twice before going to court